Omar Gonzalez focusing on U.S. January camp as offseason loan is unlikely

CARSON, Calif. – Count LA Galaxy center back Omar Gonzalez as one of the MLS-based U.S. National Team players unlikely to head on an offseason loan this winter.

U.S. head coach Jurgen Klinsmann has stated that he’d like his MLS-based players to head on loan this January as the nation prepares for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, but while Gonzalez admitted that he is “pretty much open to anything” at the moment, he is expecting to take a breather for the next few weeks before he begins preparation for the U.S.’ annual January camp.

“I'm still dealing with a little pain from my groin,” Gonzalez admitted during a conference call with reporters on Tuesday. “I just recently got done with the [U.S. national team's final 2013] games, and so right now I'm just relaxing, trying to let this groin heal up, and when it gets closer to January, got to start getting fit and whether I'm here in California with the national team for January camp or something else comes along, we'll figure that out. But as of right now, I'm just planning on the January camp.”

The groin injury that Gonzalez mentioned has plagued him since the 2012 MLS Cup and flared up at times during the Galaxy’s 2013 campaign. Gonzalez has experience with offseason loans after going on loan in January 2012 with German Bundesliga club FC Nurnberg where he tore his anterior cruciate ligament in his first training session with the team.

That experience did not sour Gonzalez to the prospect of an offseason loan, but for now, he’s simply waiting to see what types of offers emerge.

“Once it gets closer to January, once these club teams start actually asking about certain players, and whether or not these opportunities are real,” said Gonzalez. “As of right now, my plan is just to go to January camp. At the end of the day, it's also the Galaxy and the league's decision whether they want me to go, as well.”